Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Albuquerque leads 16 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $13,826 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, MA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Homes cost $48k less ($198,500 vs $246,000)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 95°F
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Albuquerque by $13,826/yr
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Income
$13,826
$61,503 vs $47,677/yr
Albuquerque
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.7% unemployment
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Violent Crime
25% lower
891.4 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Springfield
Median Home Value
$48k less
$198,500 vs $246,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,047 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 235⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 16 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 16 and Springfield wins 7. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $198,500 median home), income ($61,503 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Springfield, MA are about 1,890 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.